MR R. A. KEIR NEW HEAD OF SEDDON POLYTECHNIC

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29330, 8 October 1960, Page 15

MR R. A. KEIR NEW HEAD OF SEDDON POLYTECHNIC

opments in technical education, superintendent of technical education at the heed office of the Department of Education, Wellington. and has been associated with all phases of recent devel-

Mr R. A. Kelt, formerly on the staff of the Christchurch Technical College, where he was head of the engineering department from 1942 to 1954, has been appointed principal of the Seddon Polytechnic College, Auckland. He will take up his duties in December, Mr Keir is at present assistant

Mr Keir, who is an old boy of the Christchurch Boys’ High School, served his. apprenticeship as a fitter and turner and electrical fitter with the Christchurch Tramway Board, and as a refrigeration engineer with the New Zealand Shipping Company. During his apprenticeship he attended evening classes at the school of' engineering of Canterbury University.'

In 1933-34, he went to London, where he served as a student apprentice engineer with Guy Motors, Ltd., ; and Ransomes. Sims, and Jefferies, Ltd. On returning to- New Zealand, Mr Keir rejoined the engineering staff of the Christchurch Tramway Board as a shift engineer. In 1939, he joined the staff of the Christchurch Technical College, and in 1942 was appointed head of the engineering- department. He resigned in ,1954 to take up a position on the postprimary inspectorate of the Department of Education in Auckland. ' He was appointed senior inspector in 1958. Mr Keir has Visited Ceylon. Malaya and the Philippines on behalf of the New Zealand Government as an adviser in technical education carried out under the Colombo Plan, and has also undertaken investigational work in Australian technical colleges. He is a member of the American Society of Automotive Engineers, an associate member of the New Zealand Institution of Engineers, and an associate member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, London.